In the Middle Ages it was very unusual for people to live next to the sea. Although it was a source of wealth and an important means of communication, trade and human relations, it was also a source of danger and attacks by hostile fleets or pirates.

So when the Abbot of Ripoll, who held the lordship of the area, decided to establish a town at the site of the Roman town of Turissa, right next to the sea, it was crucial to protect it with a strong walled enclosure. The castle stood at the top of a rocky spur, in the place where the Tossa lighthouse stands today.

One of the Costa Brava’s most iconic postcard images is that of Tossa’s walled Vila Vella (Old Town). Apart from a few alterations, the enclosure, composed of over 300 metres of walls and seven towers, has barely changed since the 14th century. There are so many elements to admire: the gate of the Vila Vella, the parade ground, the narrow cobbled streets, the stone houses, the remains of the old Church of Sant Vicenç, and all right next to the sea… This charming town is perfect for strolling around.